Switch-stand



L. HERSH.

SWITCH STAND. I APPLICATION man JULY w. 1920. RENEWED AUG. I2, I92l 1,395,184. Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

v guvsmon UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE.

LEWIS HERSH, OF IRONWOOD, MICHIGAN.

SWITCH-STAND.

Application filed July 10, 1920, Serial No. 395,286. Renewed August 12, 1921.,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LEWIS HERSH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ironwood, in the county of Gogebic and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Switch-Stands, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a switch operating mechanism and more particularly to that part of the mechanism for giving motion to the switch operating rod and has for its primary object the construction and association of parts whereby the switch will be locked in either of its two positions but capable of being unlocked and operated by the foot of the operator.

An object of the invention is the novel manner of associating the parts so that when foot pressure is brought to bear upon one part the other parts will cooperate to release the switch point and automatically move the same.

A feature of my invention is the novel manner of associating the releaser with the shaft so that in the initial movement thereof the locking devices will be released and further movement will cause the switch point to move.

WVith these and other objects in view the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view.

Remaining figures are detailed views. 7

Again referring to the drawing illustrating one construction of my invention the numeral 1 designates a stand which may be secured to the road bed or railroad ties in any suitable manner. This stand rotatably supports a shaft 2 that is connected to the switch point in any suitable manner such as by the forked arm B. This shaft has rigidly secured thereto a lever 3 extending at right angles to the shaft so that the end portions 4 and 5 thereof may effectively cooperate with the pair of catches 6 and 7. These catches are weighted so as to automatically move toward the lever 3 so that the slot 8 in the catch may automatically engage and hold the shaft 2 in either of its two positions. Each catch is provided with Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

Serial No. 491,874.

a cam surface 9 for the purpose now to be described. Loosely mounted on the shaft 1s a releaser 10 having its end portions 11 and 12 so disposed as to be easily pressed by the foot of the operator. This releaser 10 is so constructed and associated with the catches that in the initial movement of the releaser the cam surface of that catch that locks the shaft 2 will be engaged and released from the lever 3. After the catch is released further movement of the releaser will bring about engagement between the lever and releaser so that the shaft 2 will be rotated for throwing the switch point. To complete the invention the shaft is provided with a crank arm 13 connected by a link 14 to the signal shaft 15 to which is secured, in any suitable manner, a signal device.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that when the switch is to be operated it is only necessary to bring the foot to bear upon the releaser, which, in its movement automatically releases the catch and turns the shaft 2.

It is, of course, to be understood that the invention may be constructed in various other manners and the parts associated in different relations and, therefore I do not desire to be limited in any manner except as set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. A switch operating mechanism comprising a shaft, means for locking the shaft in either of its two positions, a foot operated means for releasing the shaft and simultaneously operating the same.

2. A switch operating mechanism comprising a shaft, catches for holding the shaft in its various positions, and a foot operated device for releasing the catches and turning said shaft.

3. A switch operating mechanism comprising a shaft, catches for holding the shaft in its various positions, a foot operated device for releasing the catches and turning said shaft, and a signal device having a connection with the shaft.

4. A switch operating mechanism comprising a shaft, a lever connected thereto, catches arranged to engage said lever and holding the shaft in either of its positions, and a device mounted upon the shaft and adapted, in its initial movement, to release the catches and infurther movement to turn the shaft.

5. A switch operating mechanism com- 5 prising a shaft, a lever rigidly secured thereto, a pair of catches arranged to alternately engage the lever for holding the shaft in either of its positions, and a releaser loosely mounted on the shaft and co:

operating with the lever and catchesin a 10 LEWIS EiasH. 

